What To Watch This Weekend: 'Tron: Ares,' 'A House Of Dynamite,' 'Roofman,' 'After The Hunt,' And More

HOLLYWOOD, CA — From missile crises to musical fantasies, this weekend’s watch-guide spans political panic, digital consciousness and emotional reckoning — all streaming or in theaters.

Kathryn Bigelow’s“A House of Dynamite” kicks things off with a ticking-clock thriller set in the highest corridors of power. Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson and Gabriel Basso lead a tense ensemble as the U.S. faces an unidentified missile threat and only minutes to respond.

RELATED: Kathryn Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite” Makes The Unthinkable A Terrifying Reality

“Tron: Ares” reboots the sci-fi franchise with Jared Leto as a self-aware program sent into the real world. Directed by Joachim Rønning, the film blends neon spectacle with existential stakes, asking what happens when artificial intelligence seeks connection.

“Roofman,” from director Derek Cianfrance, tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Jeffrey Manchester, a fugitive who secretly lived inside a Toys “R” Us. Channing Tatum leads a cast that includes Kirsten Dunst and Ben Mendelsohn in a darkly comic portrait of a man hiding in plain sight.

Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt” stars Julia Roberts as a university professor facing a reckoning when a former student’s accusation threatens to unravel her legacy. Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield co-star in this cerebral academic thriller about truth, power and the cost of silence.

And in “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” Jennifer Lopez dazzles in a musical drama set in a Latin American prison. Directed by Bill Condon, the film reimagines the Tony-winning stage show with Lopez in a triple role alongside Diego Luna and Tonatiuh.

Ready to dive in? Scroll down for the full lineup — and step into the shimmering world of storytelling, where every frame is an escape.

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What To Watch This Weekend

“A House of Dynamite”

Rebecca Ferguson, Edris Ilba; directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Kathryn Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite” is a taut, nerve-fraying nuclear thriller that unfolds like a ticking clock. When a single missile heads toward the U.S., the film fractures into three real-time storylines — tactical, analytical, and geopolitical — each tracking the countdown to impact. Anthony Ramos, Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Harris, and Gabriel Basso anchor the triptych with performances steeped in dread and urgency.

At Fort Greely, Maj. Gonzalez braces for interception. In the Situation Room, Capt. Walker parses fractured intel, and in the West Wing, Secretary Baker and Deputy Adviser Baerington weigh retaliation. POTUS (Idris Elba) is pulled mid-game into a high-stakes Strategic Command call. The target? Chicago. The stakes? 10 million lives.

Bigelow’s first film in eight years trades spectacle for psychological tension, exposing the fragility of systems built for control. Noah Oppenheim’s screenplay, grounded in real-world research, flirts with surreal hypotheticals — a failed video call, a coin flip — that feel disturbingly plausible. Volker Bertelmann’s score thrums beneath a cast trembling with moral strain.

Ultimately, “A House of Dynamite” offers no resolution — only a cautionary tale of ordinary people facing impossible choices. Its surrealism doesn’t distort reality; it defines it.

Check out Patch’s full review of “A House of Dynamite.” — The coin flips. The countdown ends. Silence.

“Tron: Ares”

Jared Leto, Greta Lee; directed by Joachim Rønning

“Tron: Ares” reboots the iconic sci-fi franchise with a bold leap into the real world. Jared Leto stars as Ares, a sentient program sent from the Grid to Earth, tasked with bridging the digital and human realms. Director Joachim Rønning delivers a visually arresting film that blends neon-drenched spectacle with philosophical undertones, exploring themes of identity, consciousness and technological evolution.

Greta Lee plays Eve Kim, a brilliant scientist whose emotional arc anchors the story. Her chemistry with Leto adds depth to a narrative that could have easily been overwhelmed by its visual effects. The film also features Jeff Bridges reprising his role as Kevin Flynn, adding continuity and gravitas to the story.

The score, composed by Nine Inch Nails, pulses with industrial energy, amplifying the film’s tension and futuristic tone. The production design pays homage to the original “Tron” while updating the aesthetic for a modern audience — sleek, immersive and often breathtaking.

“Tron: Ares” reimagines the franchise for a generation grappling with AI, digital identity and the ethics of creation. Notwithstanding its exposition-laden plot, the movie is a visual feast with a beating heart.

“Kiss of the Spider Woman”

Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, Tonatiuh; directed by Bill Condon

“Kiss of the Spider Woman” transforms the acclaimed stage musical into a lush, emotionally charged film. Directed by Bill Condon, the story unfolds in a Latin American prison where two men — Valentin, a political prisoner (Diego Luna), and Molina, a gay window dresser (Tonatiuh) — share a cell and slowly build an unlikely bond. Their conversations are interwoven with vivid retellings of old Hollywood musicals, starring Molina’s favorite diva, Ingrid Luna, played by Jennifer Lopez.

Lopez commands the screen in a triple role as Ingrid, Aurora and the Spider Woman, embodying fantasy, danger and desire. Her musical numbers are dazzling, choreographed with theatrical flair and backed by a score from Sam Davis and songs by Kander and Ebb. The film’s visual style is rich in Technicolor hues, blurring the line between reality and imagination.

Condon’s adaptation balances political tension with personal vulnerability, exploring themes of identity, repression and escapism. Luna and Tonatiuh deliver layered performances, capturing the emotional complexity of two men navigating fear, hope and connection behind bars.

“Kiss of the Spider Woman” is a bold, stylized reimagining that honors its theatrical roots while speaking to contemporary struggles for freedom and self-expression.

“Roofman”

Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn; directed by Derek Cianfrance

“Roofman” is a darkly comedic crime drama based on the unbelievable true story of Jeffrey Manchester, a former Army Ranger turned serial McDonald’s robber. Directed by Derek Cianfrance, the film follows Manchester (Channing Tatum) as he escapes prison and secretly lives inside a Toys “R” Us for six months, plotting his next move while hiding in plain sight. Tatum delivers a charismatic and layered performance, capturing both the charm and desperation of a man living a double life.

Kirsten Dunst plays Leigh Wainscott, a single mother and Toys “R” Us employee who becomes romantically entangled with Manchester, unaware of his true identity. Their chemistry adds emotional depth to the film’s suspenseful narrative. Ben Mendelsohn rounds out the trio as Pastor Ron, a figure of moral tension in Manchester’s unraveling world.

Cianfrance’s direction blends gritty realism with surreal touches, creating a tone that’s both unsettling and oddly whimsical. The screenplay, co-written with Kirt Gunn, balances absurdity with empathy, never losing sight of the human story beneath the headlines. The supporting cast — including LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple and Peter Dinklage — adds texture to the film’s offbeat ensemble.

“Roofman” dazzles with inventive storytelling and Tatum’s standout performance. It’s a compelling portrait of a man trapped between his haunting past and surreal present.

“After the Hunt”

Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield; directed by Luca Guadagnino

“After the Hunt” is a taut academic thriller that probes the cost of truth in a world built on reputation and legacy. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film centers on a university professor, played by Julia Roberts, whose career and conscience collide when a former student makes a disturbing accusation. As the institution scrambles to contain the fallout, Roberts’ character must navigate a minefield of loyalty, ethics and personal history.

Ayo Edebiri delivers a sharp, emotionally layered performance as a young faculty member caught between institutional pressure and moral clarity. Andrew Garfield plays a charismatic but enigmatic figure from the professor’s past, whose reappearance threatens to unravel long-buried secrets.

Guadagnino’s direction is restrained yet piercing, favoring psychological tension over spectacle. The screenplay by Nora Garrett is tightly constructed, raising questions about complicity, silence and the power dynamics within elite academia. The film’s muted palette and claustrophobic interiors evoke subdued emotions, while the score by Devonté Hynes adds a haunting undercurrent.

Roberts anchors the film with quiet intensity, portraying a woman forced to confront her haunting past. Thoughtful and unsettling, “After the Hunt” leaves viewers questioning where justice ends and self-preservation begins.